Apparatus for controlling a container valve and filling the container with a carbonated liquid



Oct. 1, 1963 R. F. MAYEUX APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A CONTAINER VALVE AND FILLING THE CONTAINER WITH A CARBONATED LIQUID Filed March 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Haber-1' E Mayeux BY /W% Oct. 1, 1963 R. F. MAYEUX APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A CONTAINER VALVE AND FILLING THE CONTAINER WITH A CARBONATED LIQUID A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1961 W R a W YS m ww n a .m ,L. o w R m V. B

United States Patent Ofi ice I amass? Patented Oct. 1, 1963 3,185,527 APPARATUS F612 CONTRQLLEWG A CGNTAHQER /ALVE AND FKLLMJG THE CQNTAZNER WlTH A CARBQNATED LlQUlD Robert F. Mayeur, Birmingham, Ala, assignor of fifty percent to Crawford Johnson ompany, ind, Birmingham, Ala, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 97,691 2 Claims. (Ql. 141-475) This invention relates to apparatus for filling a container with a carbonated liquid and more particularly to such apparatus which shall be adapted for filling containers with carbonated beverages.

An object of my invention is to provide apparatus for filling a container with a carbonated liquid in which the carbonated liquid can be introduced into the container under pressure without having to chill the liquid prior to introduction.

Another object of my invention is to provide apparatus for filling a container with a carbonated liquid of the character designated which shall embody a movable supply member which is adapted to enter the container for introducing the carbonated liquid and shall include improved means for sealing the container immediately upon removal of the supply member.

Another object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the character designated in which the means for supplying the carbonated liquid is inserted and removed through a suitable passageway provided in the upper portion of the container and in which the passageway is automatically sealed by a gravity actuated valve upon removal of the supply member from the container while the container is in an upright position.

A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus for filling a container with a carbonated liquid of the character designated in which the gravity actuated valve automatically opens the passageway in the container upon inverting an empty container, whereby the container may be cleaned without the necessity of having to remove a cover member or the like.

A still further object of my invention is to provide apparatus for filling a container with a carbonated liquid of the character designated which shall be simple of construction, economical of manufacture and one which may be readily employed with conventional type containers for carbonated beverages.

Heretofore in the art to which my invention relates, various means have been devised for fillnig containers with carbonated liquids. However, such means has been unsatisfactory due to the fact that it is very difiicult to clean the containers after they become empty. Such containers have usually been hand cleaned by providing an enlarged opening in the top of the container which is sealed by a removable cover member. The cleaning solution is introduced into the container and then removed through the opening in the container. Not only does such a cleaning process require the removal of the cover members from the container, but such containers are not adapted for washing by automatic apparatus.

To overcome the above and other ditficulties, I provide a passageway in the upper portion of the container which is automatically closed when the container is in an upright position by a gravity actuated valve and is automatically opened when an empty container is inverted. Accordingly, when the contm'ner is in an upright or filling position, the gravity actuated valve is opened by the supply means for the carbonated liquid and upon removal of the supply means, the gravity actuated valve is automatically closed, whereby there is substantially no loss of pressure as the container is filled.

On the other hand, when an empty container is inverted and positioned in an automatic washing machine, the gravity actuated valve automatically opens the passageway whereby the cleaning solution may be drained through the passageway.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the apparatus in the filling position, a portion of the container and the means for raising and lowering the same being in elevation;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the means for supplying the carbonated liquid and gas and showing the same in position for introducing the gas alone;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the means for introducing the carbonated liquid and carbonated gas and showing the same in a position whereby there is no flow of carbonated liquid or gas;

FIG. 4 is a fragmental view showing the position of the gravity actuated valve when an empty container is inverted; and,

FIG. 5 is a fragmental view showing a modified form of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show a conventional type container 10 for carbonated liquids. The container is provided with a removable cover member 11 which is secured in place by the usual annular retainer member 12 having suitable locking means associated therewith. The container 10 is also provided with a conduit 13 having a suitable valve 14 therein for removing the carbonated product from the container iii in a manner well understood in the art. Also, a conduit 15 having a control valve 17 therein is provided in the container 16 for introducing gas under pressure into the container whereby the product is discharged through the conduit 13.

The container described hereinabove is a conventional type container for carbonated beverages and may be employed in association with my improved apparatus now to be described. A passageway 18 is provided in the upper portion of the container 10. Preferably, where the container #10 is provided with the removable cover member 11, the passageway 18 is provided in the cover member 11, as shown. However, it will be apparent that the container '1!) may be provided with an integral upper portion, thereby eliminating the cover member 11. By providing the passageway 18 in the cover member 11, conventional type containers having cover members may be employed in association with my improved apparatus by merely modifying the cover member and without any change to the remainder of the container. The passageway 18 may be defined by a sleeve member 19 or the passageway may be defined by providing an opening in the container, as shown in the modified form of my invention in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

Mounted for pivotal movement within the container 10 adjacent the passageway 18 on a suitable pivot pin 21 is a g avity actuated valve, indicated generally at 22. Preferably, the lower end of the sleeve 19 is cut to a bevel, as shown in FIG. 1, whereby the gravity actuated valve 22 engages the same with a minimum amount of angular movement of the valve. The gravity actuated valve 22 comprises a scaling member 23 which is adapted to move into seated position relative to the lower beveled end of the sleeve 19 when the container is in an upright position whereby the passageway 18 is closed. The valve unit 22 is provided with an outwardly projecting arm 24 having a counterweight 26 mounted at the outer or free end thereof. The counterweight 26 is of a weight greater than the weight of the sealing member 23 whereby it urges the sealing member 23 into seated position relative to the passageway 18 when the container is in an upright position. Also, the counterweight 26 urges the sealing member 23 toward an open position, as shown in FIG. 4, when an empty container is inverted.

While the container it? is charged with the carbonated liquid, the sealing member -23 remains in seated position relative to the passageway 18 due to the internal pressure exerted by the carbonated liquid. However, when an empty container is inverted, as shown in FIG. 4, the counterweight 26 overbalances the weight of the sealing member '23 whereby the gravity actuated valve 22 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 4 to thus permit free drainage of any cleaning solution from the container it}. Accordingly, the empty container can be Washed by introducing the cleaning solution through the conduits l3 and 16 and then discharging the residual solution through the passageway 18, thereby particularly adapting my improved apparatus for use with automatic washing equipment.

The carbonated liquid and gas is supplied to the container it; by a supply tube indicated generally at 27. A longitudinally extending partition 28 divides the supply tube 27 into separate conduits or passageways 29 and 31 which supply the carbonated liquid and gas, respectively. The lower end of the tube 27 is prow'ded with restricted passageways 32 which are in communication with the conduit or passageway 29 whereby the flow of the carbonated liquid is restrained to thereby bring about a gentle flow of the carbonated liquid into the container It It is very desirable that the flow of the carbonated liquid be very gentle due to the fact that any agitation will cause the gas to become separated from the liquid. The lower end of the conduit or passageway 31 is provided with a discharge port 33 for discharging the gas into the container ll Surrounding the supply tube 27 is a valve housing indicated generally at 34 having a lateral passageway 36 therein for introducing the carbonated liquid. A lateral passage 37 is provided in the supply tube 27 in position to register with the passageway 36- when the apparatus is in the position shown in FIG. 1. Communicating with the passageway 36 is a conduit .38 for supplying the carbonated liquid.

A Y-shaped passageway 39 is provided in the valve block 34 for supplying and exhausting gas through the passageway or conduit 31. The passageway 39 communicates with a tube 41 which in turn is in communication with a suitable source of gas under pressure. The uppermost leg 42 of the Y-shaped opening 39 is in position to register with an opening 43 provided in the conduit or passageway 31, when the supply tube 27 is in the position shown in FIG. 1. The outer or lowermost leg 44 of the Y-shaped passageway 39 is in position to register with the opening 43 when the tubular member 27 is in the position shown in FIG. 2 whereby gas alone is supplied to the container. That is, with the apparatus in the position shown in FIG. 2, the passageways 36 and 42 are blocked.

Downward movement of the supply tube 27 is limited by a collar 46 which is secured to the tubular member 27 by a suitable means, such as a set screw 47. The supply tube 27 is urged downwardly toward the position shown in H8. 3 by a compression spring 48 which is interposed between the valve housing 34 and a spring abutment 49. With the supply tube 27 in the position shown in FIG. 3, the passageways 36, 4 2 and 44 are all blocked whereby there is no further flow of the carbonated liquid and gas.

Secured to the supply tube 27 beneath the annular spring abutment 49 is a sealing member 51 which is adapted to engage the upper end of the passageway 18. When the passageway 18 is in the form of a sleeve member 19, the sealing member 51 would engage the upper end of the sleeve 1), as shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, a suitable guide member 52 having an outwardly flaring 4 lower surface 53 is secured to the supply tube 27 whereby the upper end of the sleeve member 1'9 is guided into the proper seating position relative to the sealing member 51.

In FIG. 5 of the drawings, 1 show a modified form of my invention in which the gravity actuated valve 22 is provided with a sealing portion 23 which is connected to a counterweight 26 by a suitable arm 24 The gravity actuated valve 22 is mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot pin 2.1 whereby the counterweight 26 moves from the solid line position to the dotted line position when the supply tube is inserted in the passageway 3% with the container in an upright position. On the other hand, when the supply tube 27 is withdrawn from the passageway 18 the counterweight returns the valve 22 to the solid line position shown in FIG. 5 whereby the passageway 18 is sealed. A suitable sleeve member th may be connected to the passageway i'v and a suitable cover member 5d may be provided for the upper end of the sleeve member 19 after the container indicated at M has been charged. The cover member 54- may be formed of a suitable material, such as plastic or the like, to prevent dust or any foreign materials from entering the sleeve member 19 in order to provide for ample movement of the gravity actuated valve 22 in an angular direction, a raised portion 57 is provided in the upper surface of the container lll whereby the counterweight as is adapted to move to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 5.

rom the foregoing dmcription, the operation of my improved apparatus will be readily understood. To charge the container 1% with the carbonated liquid, the supply tube 27 is inserted through the passageway 18, as shown in FIG. 1, whereby the gravity actuated valve 22 is pivoted to the position shown. As the supply tube 27 moves inwardly, the sealing member 51 engages the sleeve member 19 or 1%, as the case may be, whereby the passageway 18 is sealed.

Relative movement is then imparted between the housing 34 and the supply tube 27 by suitable means, such as by providing a cam 56 which is adapted to raise and lower the container 14 and the supply tube 27 upon rotation of the cam. When the supply tube 27 is raised to the position shown in FIG. 2, the passageway 44- registers with the opening 43 in the conduit or passageway 31 whereby gas under pressure is introduced through the conduit 31 and the port 33 into the container 1%. Continued upward movement of the container 1d and the supply tube 27 moves the tube 27 to the position shown in FIG. 1 whereby the passageways 42 and 36 are in register with the openings 43 and 37, respectively. In this position, the carbonated liquid is introduced and the gas is exhausted. Preferably, the carbonated liquid and the gas are introduced at substantially the same pressure. The gas under pressure within the container ltl, together with the restricted passageways 32 in the lower end of the conduit 29 restrain the inward flow of the carbonated liquid whereby it enters the container 1% in a gentle manner to thereby prevent agitation of the carbonated liquid. When the carbonated liquid reaches the dotted line position indicated at 59 in FIG. 1, the port 33 is closed, thereby bringing about an equilibrium condition to prevent further introduction of carbonated liquid into the container 10.

With the container it! thus filled with the carbonated liquid, the container 1% is lowered whereby the supply tube 27 moves to the lowermost position, as shown in FIG. 3, which is limited by the collar 46. In this position, the passageways 37 and 43 in the supply tube 27 are closed to thereby prevent the escape of carbonated liquid and gas after the container it is removed. As the supply tube 2.7 is withdrawn from the passageway 13, the counterweight 26 automatically causes the valve 22 to move to the seated position relative to the passageway 13 to thereby seal the same. Once the valve member 22 moves toward the passageway 18, the pressure of the carbonated liquid within the container it continues to urge the valve 22 into seated position, thereby preventing the valve from becoming unseated during handling of the container. In other words, the valve member 22 would remain in sealed position with the passageway 18 regardless of the position of the contain-er it} as long as the container is charged with the carbonated liquid.

After the container 19 is empty, the container it} is washed by inverting the container to the position shown in FIG. 4 whereby the counterweight 26 moves the sealing portion 23 to the open position shown in FiG. 4. In this position, free discharge of the cleaning solution from the container it) is permitted. The container 1%) is preferably Washed by introducing cleaning solution through the conduits 13 and 16 and discharging the residual solution through the passageway 18.

The operation of the apparatus shown in FEG. 5 is identical to the operation of the apparatus shown in FiG. 1. By providing the beveled lower end for the sleeve member 19, the amount of angular movement of the valve 22 is limited. However, by providing the raised portion 57 within the upper surface of the container, the counterweight 2( is free to move a sufiicient distance to ermit the sealing portion 23 of the valve to move from fully seated position to a fully open position, as shown.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised improved apparatus for filling a container with a carbonated liquid. By providing a gravity actuated valve which automatically moves from a seated position to an open position when an empty container is inverted, my apparatus is particularly adapted fo use with automatic washing apparatus, whereby the containers may be washed and handled with a minimum of efiort and a minimum of apparatus. Furthermore, by providing means for washing the container without having to remove the cover member therefor, a substantial amount of time and labor is saved in the washing operation. Furthermore, by providing quick closing means for the valve 22 upon removal of the supply means 27 from the container, a minimum amount of the pressure is released as the supply means is withdrawn.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications Without departing from the spirit thereof,

and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for filling a container with a carbonated liquid comprising a filling passageway through the upper portion of the container, a gravity actuated valve mounted Within said container and movable by gravity toward seated position relative to said passageway when the container is in an upright position to close said passageway and movable by gravity away from seated position when the container is in an inverted position and empty to open said passageway for cleaning the container, an elongated, vertical supply conduit for said carbonated liquid adapted to enter said passageway and engage said gravity actuated valve, means to impart relative vertical movement between said container and said supply conduit to move said sup-ply conduit into engagement with said gravity actuated valve and inwardly of said container to thereby move said gravity actuated valve away from seated position upon movement in one direction with the container in an upright position and upon movement in the opposite direction with said container in an upright position to remove said supply conduit from said container and thereby release said valve for return by gravity to seated position to close said passageway, and sealing means carried by said supply conduit disposed to seal said passageway upon movement of said supply conduit into said container.

2. Apparatus for filling a container with a carbonated liquid as defined in claim 1 in which the container is provided with a removable cover and said passageway is provided in said removable cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 568,133 Feroe Sept. 22, 1896 594,781 Dolley et 'al Nov. 30, 1897 945,533 Heybach Jan. 4, 1910 975,958 Johnson Nov. 15, 1910 2,467,684 Meyer et 'al Apr. 19, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 155,889 Sweden Sept. 4, 1956 

1. APPARATUS FOR FILLING A CONTAINER WITH A CARBONATED LIQUID COMPRISING A FILLING PASSAGEWAY THROUGH THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CONTAINER, A GRAVITY ACTUATED VALVE MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER AND MOVABLE BY GRAVITY TOWARD SEATED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID PASSAGEWAY WHEN THE CONTAINER IS IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION TO CLOSE SAID PASSAGEWAY AND MOVABLE BY GRAVITY AWAY FROM SEATED POSITION WHEN THE CONTAINER IS IN AN INVERTED POSITION AND EMPTY TO OPEN SAID PASSAGEWAY FOR CLEANING THE CONTAINER, AN ELONGATED, VERTICAL SUPPLY CONDUIT FOR SAID CARBONATED LIQUID ADAPTED TO ENTER SAID PASSAGEWAY AND ENGAGE SAID GRAVITY ACTUATED VALVE, MEANS TO IMPART RELATIVE VERTICAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER AND SAID SUPPLY CONDUIT TO MOVE SAID SUPPLY CONDUIT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID GRAVITY ACTUATED VALVE AND INWARDLY OF SAID CONTAINER TO THEREBY MOVE SAID GRAVITY ACTUATED VALVE AWAY FROM SEATED POSITION UPON MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION WITH THE CONTAINER IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION AND UPON MOVEMENT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WITH SAID CONTAINER IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION TO REMOVE SAID SUPPLY CONDUIT FROM SAID CONTAINER AND THEREBY RELEASE SAID VALVE FOR RETURN BY GRAVITY TO SEATED POSITION TO CLOSE SAID PASSAGEWAY, AND SEALING 